L-glutamic acid-producing bacterium and method for producing L-glutamic acid

ABSTRACT

L-Glutamic acid is produced by culturing in a liquid culture medium a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia and having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid, which increases in an activity of enzyme catalyzing a reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis, or which decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid, and collecting produced L-glutamic acid from the culture medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel L-glutamic acid-producing bacterium and a method for producing L-glutamic acid by fermentation using the same. L-Glutamic acid is an important amino acid as food, drugs and the like.

[0002] L-Glutamic acid has conventionally been produced by fermentation methods utilizing the so-called coryneform L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria which principally belong to the genera Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, and Microbacterium or variants thereof (“Amino Acid Fermentation”, Gakkai Shuppan Center, pp.195-215, 1986). As methods for producing L-glutamic acid by fermentation utilizing other bacterial strains, there have been known the methods utilizing microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Streptomyces, Penicillium and the like (U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,929), the methods utilizing microorganisms of the genera Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Serratia, Candida and the like (U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,857), the methods utilizing microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serratia and the like or Aerobacter aerogenes (currently referred to as Enterobacter aerogenes) (Japanese Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 32-9393(1957)), the method utilizing variant strains of Escherichia coli (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 5-244970(1993)) and the like.

[0003] Though the productivity of L-glutamic acid has considerably been improved by breeding of such microorganisms as mentioned above or improvements of production methods, it is still desired to develop a more inexpensive and more efficient method for producing L-glutamic acid in order to meet the expected markedly increasing future demand of the amino acid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object of the present invention is to find a novel L-glutamic acid-producing bacterium having a high ability to produce L-glutamic acid, thereby developing a more inexpensive and more efficient method for producing L-glutamic acid.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned object, the present inventors intensively searched for and studied microorganisms having the ability to produce L-glutamic acid that are different from the previously reported microorganisms. As a result, they found that certain strains derived from microorganisms belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia had a high ability to produce L-glutamic acid, and have completed the present invention.

[0006] Thus, the present invention provide:

[0007] (1) a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia and having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid and at least one of the following properties:

[0008] (a) the microorganism increases in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis; and

[0009] (b) the microorganism decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid;

[0010] (2) a microorganism of the above (1) wherein the enzyme catalyzing the reaction for the L-glutamic acid biosynthesis is at least one selected from the group consisting of citrate synthase (abbreviated as “CS”, hereinafter), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (abbreviated as “PEPC” hereinafter), and glutamate dehydrogenase (abbreviated as “GDH” hereinafter);

[0011] (3) a microorganism of the above (2) wherein the enzyme catalyzing the reaction for the L-glutamic acid biosynthesis includes all of CS, PEPC and GDH;

[0012] (4) a microorganism of any one of the above (1) to (3) wherein the enzyme catalyzing the reaction branching from the pathway for L-glutamic acid-biosynthesis and producing the compound other than L-glutamic acid is α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (abbreviated as “αKGDH” hereinafter);

[0013] (5) a microorganism of any one of the above (1) to (4) which is Enterobacter agglomerans or Serratia liquefacience; and

[0014] (6) a method for producing L-glutamic acid which comprises culturing the microorganism as defined in any one of the above (1) to (5) in a liquid culture medium to produce and accumulate L-glutamic acid in the culture medium, and collecting the L-glutamic acid from the culture medium.

[0015] Because the microorganism of the present invention have a high ability to produce L-glutamic acid, it is considered to be possible to impart a further higher production ability to the microorganism by using the breeding techniques previously known for the coryneform L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria and the like, and it is expected to contribute to development of a more inexpensive and more efficient method for producing L-glutamic acid by appropriately selecting culture conditions and the like.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 shows construction of a plasmid pMWCPG having a gltA gene, a ppc gene and a gdhA gene.

[0017]FIG. 2 shows construction of a plasmid pSTVG having the gdha gene.

[0018]FIG. 3 shows construction of a plasmid RSF-Tet having a replication origin of a wide-host-range plasmid RSF1010 and a tetracycline resistance gene.

[0019]FIG. 4 shows construction of a plasmid RSFCPG having the replication origin of the wide-host-range plasmid RSF1010, the tetracycline resistance gene, the glta gene, the ppc gene and the gdhA gene.

[0020]FIG. 5 shows construction of a plasmid pMWCB having the gltA gene.

[0021]FIG. 6 shows a restriction map of a DNA fragment of pTWVEK101 derived from Enterobacter agglomerans.

[0022]FIG. 7 shows comparison of an amino acid sequence deduced from a nucleotide sequence of a sucA gene derived from Enterobacter agglomerans with one derived from Escherichia coli. The upper sections: Enterobacter agglomerans, the lower sections: Escherichia coli (the same shall apply hereinafter).

[0023]FIG. 8 shows comparison of an amino acid sequence deduced from a nucleotide sequence of a sucB gene derived from Enterobacter agglomerans with one derived from Escherichia coli.

[0024]FIG. 9 shows comparison of an amino acid sequence deduced from a nucleotide sequence of a sdhB gene derived from Enterobacter agglomerans with one derived from Escherichia coli.

[0025]FIG. 10 shows comparison of an amino acid sequence deduced from a nucleotide sequence of a sucC gene derived from Enterobacter agglomerans with one derived from Escherichia coli.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter.

[0027] The microorganism of the present invention is a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia, and having at least one of the following properties:

[0028] (a) the microorganism increases in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis; and

[0029] (b) the microorganism decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid.

[0030] Such a microorganism can be obtained by using a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or the genus Serratia as a parent strain, and imparting the properties of the above (a) and/or (b) to the microorganism. Examples of the microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or the genus Serratia that can be used as the parent strain are listed below:

[0031]Enterobacter agglomerans

[0032]Enterobacter aerogenes

[0033]Enterobacter amnigenus

[0034]Enterobacter asburiae

[0035]Enterobacter cloacae

[0036]Enterobacter dissolvens

[0037]Enterobacter gergoviae

[0038]Enterobacter hormaechei

[0039]Enterobacter intermedius

[0040]Enterobacter nimipressuralis

[0041]Enterobacter sakazakii

[0042]Enterobacter taylorae

[0043]Serratia liquefacience

[0044]Serratia entomophila

[0045]Serratia ficaria

[0046]Serratia fonticola

[0047]Serratia grimesii

[0048]Serratia proteamaculans

[0049]Serratia odorifera

[0050]Serratia plymuthica

[0051]Serratia rubidaea

[0052] More preferably, those bacterial strains listed below can be mentioned:

[0053]Enterobacter agglomerans ATCC 12287

[0054] Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355

[0055]Serratia liquefacience ATCC 14460

[0056] The Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355 was deposited at the National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry on Feb. 19, 1998, and received an accession number of FERM P-16644, and then transferred to an international deposition under the Budapest Treaty on Jan. 11, 1999, and received an accession number of FERM BP-6614. The Enterobacter agglomerans ATCC 12287, and the Serratia liquefacience ATCC 14460 are available from ATCC.

[0057] The Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355 is a strain isolated from soil in Iwata-shi, Shizuoka, Japan.

[0058] Physiological properties of AJ13355 are as follows:

[0059] (1) Gram stain: Negative

[0060] (2) Behavior for oxygen: Facultative anaerobe

[0061] (3) Catalase: Negative

[0062] (4) Oxidase: Positive

[0063] (5) Nitrate reduction: Negative

[0064] (6) Voges-Proskauer reaction: Positive

[0065] (7) Methyl Red test: Negative

[0066] (8) Urease: Negative

[0067] (9) Indole production: Positive

[0068] (10) Motility: Present

[0069] (11) Hydrogen sulfide production in TSI culture medium: Slightly active

[0070] (12) β-Galactosidase: Positive

[0071] (13) Sugar assimilability:

[0072] Arabinose: Positive

[0073] Sucrose: Positive

[0074] Lactose: Positive

[0075] Xylose: Positive

[0076] Sorbitol: Positive

[0077] Inositol: Positive

[0078] Trehalose: Positive

[0079] Maltose: Positive

[0080] Melibiose: Positive

[0081] Adonitol: Negative

[0082] Raffinose: Positive

[0083] Salicin: Negative

[0084] Melibiose: Positive

[0085] (14) Glycerose assimilability: Positive

[0086] (15) Organic acid assimilability:

[0087] Citric acid: Positive

[0088] Tartaric acid: Negative

[0089] Gluconic acid: Positive

[0090] Acetic acid: Positive

[0091] Malonic acid: Negative

[0092] (16) Arginine dehydratase: Negative

[0093] (17) Ornithine decarboxylase: Negative

[0094] (18) Lysine decarboxylase: Negative

[0095] (19) Phenylalanine deaminase: Negative

[0096] (20) Pigment formation: Yellow

[0097] (21) Gelatin liquefaction: Positive

[0098] (22) Growth pH: Not good growth at pH 4, good growth at pH 4.5 to 7

[0099] (23) Growth temperature: Good growth at 25° C., good growth at 30° C., good growth at 37° C., growth possible at 42° C., no growth at 45° C.

[0100] From these bacteriological properties, AJ13355 is determined to be Enterobacter agglomerans.

[0101] In the working examples described hereinafter, Enterobacter agglomerans ATCC12287, Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355, and Serratia liquefacience ATCC14460 were used as starting parent strains for obtaining strains which increase in the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the reactions for the L-glutamic acid biosynthesis, or strains which decrease in or are deficient in the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the reaction branching from the pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing the compound other than L-glutamic acid. However, the sugar metabolism by any of bacteria belonging to the genera Enterobacter and Serratia is achieved via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway, and pyruvate produced in the pathway is oxidized in the tricarboxylic acid cycle under aerobic conditions. L-Glutamic acid is biosynthesized from α-ketoglutaric acid which is an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid cycle by GDH or glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase. Thus, these microorganisms share the same biosynthetic pathway for L-glutamic acid, and microorganism belonging to the genera Enterobacter and Serratia are encompassed within a single concept according to the present invention. Therefore, microorganisms belonging to the genera Enterobacter and Serratia other than species and strains specifically mentioned above also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0102] The microorganism of the present invention is a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or the genus Serratia and having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid. The expression “having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid” as herein used means to have an ability to accumulate L-glutamic acid in a culture medium during cultivation. According to the present invention, the ability to produce L-glutamic acid is imparted by giving either one or both of the following characteristics:

[0103] (a) the microorganism increases in the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the reaction for the L-glutamic acid biosynthesis; and

[0104] (b) the microorganism decreases in or is deficient in the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the reaction branching from the pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing the compound other than L-glutamic acid.

[0105] As examples of the enzyme catalyzing the reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis of microorganisms of the genus Enterobacter or Serratia, there can be mentioned GDH, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, aconitate hydratase, CS, PEPC, pyruvate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, enolase, phosphoglyceromutase, phosphoglycerate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase, fructose bisphosphate aldolase, phosphofructokinase, glucose phosphate isomerase and the like. Among these enzymes, one or two or three kinds of CS, PEPC and GDH are preferred. As for the microorganism of the present invention, it is further preferred that activities of all of the three kinds of enzymes, CS, PEPC and GDH, are increased. Whether a microorganism increases in an activity of a target enzyme, and degree of the increase of the activity can be determined by measuring the enzyme activity of a bacterial cell extract or a purified fraction, and comparing it with that of a wild type strain or a parent strain.

[0106] The microorganism of the present invention, which belongs to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia, and increases in the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis, can be obtained as, for example, a variant where mutation has been made in a gene encoding the enzyme or a genetic recombinant strain by using any of the microorganisms mentioned above as a starting parent strain.

[0107] To enhance the activity of CS, PEPC or GDH, for example, a gene encoding CS, PEPC or GDH can be cloned in a suitable plasmid, and the aforementioned starting parent strain as a host can be transformed with the resulting plasmid. This can increase the copy number of each of the genes encoding CS, PEPC and GDH (hereinafter abbreviated as “gltA gene”, “ppc gene”, and “gdhA gene”, respectively), and as a result the activities of CS, PEPC and GDH can be increased.

[0108] One or two or three kinds selected from the cloned gltA gene, ppc gene and gdhA gene in any combination are introduced into the starting parent strain mentioned above. When two or three kinds of the genes are introduced, either the two or three kinds of the genes are cloned in one kind of plasmid, and introduced into the host, or they are separately cloned in two or three kinds of plasmids that can exist in the same host, and introduced into the host.

[0109] The plasmid is not particularly limited so long as it can autonomously replicate in a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia. Examples of the plasmid include, for example, pUC19, pUC18, pBR322, pHSG299, pHSG298, pHSG399, pHSG398, RSF1010, pMW119, pMW118, pMW219, pMW218 and the like. Other than these plasmids, phage DNA vectors can also be utilized.

[0110] Transformation can be achieved by, for example, the method of D. M. Morrison (Methods in Enzymology 68, 326 (1979)), the method by increasing permeability of recipient cells for DNA with calcium chloride (Mandel, M. and Higa, A., J. Mol. Biol., 53, 159 (1970)), or the like.

[0111] The activities of CS, PEPC and GDH can also be increased by using multiple copies of the gltA gene, the ppc gene and/or the gdh gene present on the chromosome DNA of the starting parent strain as a host. In order to introduce multiple copies of the gltA gene, the ppc gene and/or the gdhA gene into a chromosome DNA of a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia, sequences present on chromosome DNA in a multiple copy number such as repetitive DNA, and inverted repeats present at an end of transposition factors can be utilized. Alternatively, multiple copies of the genes can also be introduced into a chromosome DNA by utilizing transposition of transposons carrying the gltA gene, the ppc gene, or the gdhA gene. These techniques can increase the copy number of the gltA gene, the ppc gene, and the gdhA gene in transformant cells, and as a result increase the activities of CS, PEPC and GDH.

[0112] Any organisms can be used as a source of the gltA gene, the ppc gene and the gdhA gene used for increasing copy numbers, so long as the organisms have the CS, PEPC and GDH activities. Among such organisms, bacteria, i.e., prokaryotes, such as those bacteria belonging to the genera Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Erwinia, Pantoea, Serratia, Escherichia, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, and Bacillus are preferred. As a specific example, Escherichia coli can be mentioned. The gltA gene, the ppc gene and the gdhA gene can be obtained from a chromosome DNA of such microorganisms as mentioned above.

[0113] The gltA gene, the ppc gene and the gdhA gene can each be obtained from a chromosome DNA of any of the aforementioned microorganisms by isolating a DNA fragment complementing auxotrophy of a variant strain lacking the CS, PEPC or GDH activity. Alternatively, because the nucleotide sequences of these genes of bacteria of the genus Escherichia or Corynebacterium have already been elucidated (Biochemistry, Vol. 22, pp.5243-5249, 1983; J. Biochem. Vol. 95, pp.909-916, 1984; Gene, Vol. 27, pp.193-199, 1984; Microbiology, Vol. 140, pp.1817-1828, 1994; Mol. Gen. Genet. Vol. 218, pp.330-339, 1989; and Molecular Microbiology, Vol. 6, pp.317-326, 1992), the genes can be obtained by PCR using primers synthesized based on each of the elucidated nucleotide sequences, and the chromosome DNA as a template.

[0114] The activity of CS, PEPC or GDH can also be increased by, other than by the gene amplification mentioned above, enhancing expression of the gltA gene, the ppc gene or the gdhA gene. For example, the expression is enhanced by replacing the promoter of the gltA gene, the ppc gene, or the gdhA gene with another stronger promoter. Examples of such a strong promoter include, for example, a lac promoter, a trp promoter, a trc promoter, a tac promoter, a P_(R) promoter and a P_(L) promoter of lambda phage and the like. The gltA gene, the ppc gene, or the gdhA gene of which promoter has been substituted is cloned into a plasmid and introduced into a host microorganism, or introduced into a chromosome DNA of host microorganism using a repetitive DNA, inverted repeat, transposon or the like.

[0115] The activities of CS, PEPC or GDH can also be increased by replacing the promoter of the gltA gene, the ppc gene, or the gdhA gene on a chromosome with another stronger promoter (see WO87/03006, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 61-268183(1986)), or inserting a strong promoter at the upstream of each coding sequence of the genes (see Gene, 29, pp. 231-241, 1984). Specifically, these are achieved by homologous recombination between the gltA gene, the ppc gene, or the gdhA gene of which promoter is replaced with a stronger promoter or DNA containing a part of them, and a corresponding gene on the chromosome.

[0116] Specific examples of the microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia of which CS, PEPC or GDH activity is increased include, for example, Enterobacter agglomerans ATCC12287/RSFCPG, Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355/RSFCPG, and Serratia liquefacience ATCC14460/RSFCPG.

[0117] Examples of the enzyme catalyzing the reaction branching from the pathway of L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing the compound other than L-glutamic acid include, for example, αKGDH, isocitrate lyase, phosphate acetyltransferase, acetate kinase, acetohydroxy acid synthase, acetolactate synthase, formate acetyltransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, glutamate decarboxylase, 1-pyrroline dehydrogenase and the like. Among these enzymes, αKGDH is preferred.

[0118] In order to obtain such decrease or deficiency of enzyme activity as mentioned above in a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia, a mutation causing the decrease or deficiency of the enzyme activity can be introduced into a gene encoding the enzyme by a conventional mutagenesis technique or genetic engineering technique.

[0119] Examples of the mutagenesis technique include, for example, the method utilizing irradiation of X-ray or ultraviolet light, the method utilizing treatment with a mutagenic agent such as N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and the like. The site of gene to which a mutation is introduced may be a coding region encoding an enzyme protein, or an expression regulatory region such as a promoter.

[0120] Examples of the genetic engineering technique include, for example, genetic recombination, genetic transduction, cell fusion and the like. For example, a drug resistance gene is inserted into a target gene to produce a functionally inactivated gene (defective gene). Then, this defective gene is introduced into a cell of a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia, and the target gene on a chromosome is replaced with the defective gene by homologous recombination (gene disruption).

[0121] Whether a microorganism decreases in an activity of a target enzyme or is deficient in the activity, and degree of the decrease of the activity can be determined by measuring the enzyme activity of a bacterial cell extract or a purified fraction of a candidate strain, and comparing it with that of a wild type strain or a parent strain. The αKGDH enzymatic activity can be measured by, for example, the method of Reed et al. (L. J. Reed and B. B. Mukherjee, Methods in Enzymology 1969, 13, p.55-61).

[0122] Depending on the target enzyme, a target variant can be selected based on a phenotype of the variant. For example, a variant which is deficient in the αKGDH activity or decreases in the activity cannot grow on a minimal medium containing glucose, or a minimal medium containing acetic acid or L-glutamic acid as an exclusive carbon source, or shows markedly reduced growth rate therein under aerobic conditions. However, even under the same condition, it can exhibit normal growth by addition of succinic acid or lysine, methionine and diaminopimelate to the minimal medium containing glucose. Based on these phenomena, a variant that is deficient in the αKGDH activity or decreases in the activity can be selected.

[0123] A method for producing a Brevibacterium lactofermentum strain lacking the αKGDH gene based on homogenous recombination is detailed in WO95/34672, and a similar method can be used for microorganisms belonging to the genera Enterobacter and Serratia.

[0124] In addition, procedures of genetic cloning, cleavage and ligation of DNA, transformation and the like are detailed in Molecular Cloning, 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989) and the like.

[0125] An example of the variant strain that is deficient in the αKGDH activity or decreases in the activity obtained as described above is Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13356. The Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13356 was deposited at the National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry on Feb. 19, 1998, received an accession number of FERM P-16645,—and then transferred to an international deposition under the Budapest Treaty on Jan. 11, 1999, and received an accession number of FERM BP-6615.

[0126] The microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia, and having at least one of the properties (a) and (b) and an ability to produce L-glutamic acid can be cultured in a liquid medium to produce and accumulate L-glutamic acid in the medium.

[0127] The culture medium may be an ordinary nutrient medium containing a carbon source, a nitrogen source, and inorganic salts, as well as organic trace nutrients such as amino acids, vitamins and the like, as required. It can be a synthetic medium or a natural medium. Any carbon sources and nitrogen sources can be used for the culture medium so long as they can be utilized by the microorganism to be cultured.

[0128] The carbon source may be a saccharide such as glucose, glycerol, fructose, sucrose, maltose, mannose, galactose, starch hydrolysates, molasses and the like. Further, an organic acid such as acetic acid and citric acid may also be used alone or in combination with other carbon sources.

[0129] The nitrogen source may be ammonia, ammonium salts such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate, and ammonium acetate, nitrates and the like.

[0130] As organic trace nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, fatty acids, nucleic acids, materials containing them such as peptone, casamino acid, yeast extract, and soybean protein decomposition products and the like are used, and when an auxotrophic variant which requires an amino acid or the like for its growth is used, it is necessary to complement the nutrient required.

[0131] As the inorganic salt, phosphates, magnesium salts, calcium salts, iron salts, manganese salts and the like are used.

[0132] As for the culture conditions, cultivation may be performed under aerobic conditions at a temperature of 20 to 42° C. and a pH of 4 to 8. The cultivation can be continued for 10 hours to 4 days to accumulate a considerable amount of L-glutamic acid in the liquid culture medium.

[0133] After the completion of the cultivation, L-glutamic acid accumulated in the culture medium may be collected by a known method. For example, it can be isolated by a method comprising concentrating the medium after removing the cells to crystallize the product, ion exchange chromatography or the like.

EXAMPLES

[0134] The present invention will be explained more specifically with reference to the following examples.

[0135] (1) Construction of Plasmid Having gltA Gene, ppc Gene and gdhA Gene

[0136] Procedure for construction of a plasmid having a gltA gene, a ppc gene and a gdhA gene will be explained by referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5.

[0137] A plasmid PBRGDH having a gdhA gene derived from Escherichia coli (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 7-203980(1995)) was digested with HindIII and SphI, and the both ends were blunt-ended by a treatment with T4 DNA polymerase. Then, a DNA fragment containing the gdhA gene was purified and collected. On the other hand, a plasmid pMWCP having a gltA gene and a ppc gene derived from Escherichia coli (WO97/08294) was digested with XbaI, and the both ends were blunt-ended by a treatment with T4 DNA polymerase. This was mixed with the DNA fragment having the gdhA gene purified above, and ligated with T4 ligase, giving a plasmid pMWCPG, which corresponds to the pMWCP further carrying the gdhA gene (FIG. 1).

[0138] A DNA fragment having the gdhA gene obtained by digesting the pBRGDH with HindIII and SalI was purified and collected, and introduced into the HindIII-SalI site of a plasmid pSTV29 (purchased from Takara Shuzo) to obtain a plasmid pSTVG (FIG. 2).

[0139] At the same time, a product obtained by digesting a plasmid pvIC40 having a replication origin of a wide-host-range plasmid RSF1010 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 8-047397(1996)) with NotI, followed by T4 DNA polymerase treatment and PstI digestion, and a product obtained by digesting pBR322 with EcoT141, followed by T4 DNA polymerase treatment and PstI digestion, were mixed and ligated with T4 ligase to obtain a plasmid RSF-Tet having the replication origin of RSF1010 and a tetracycline resistance gene (FIG. 3).

[0140] Then, the pMWCPG was digested with EcoRI and PstI, and a DNA fragment having the gltA gene, the ppc gene and the gdhA gene was purified and collected. Similarly, the RSF-Tet was digested with EcoRI and PstI, and a DNA fragment having the replication origin of RSF1010 was purified and collected. Those DNA fragments were mixed and ligated with T4 ligase to obtain a plasmid RSFCPG composed of RSF-Tet carrying the gltA gene, the ppc gene and the gdhA gene (FIG. 4). Expression of the glta gene, the ppc gene and the gdhA gene by the resulting plasmid RSFCPG, and expression of the gdhA gene by the pSTVG were confirmed based on complementation of auxotrophy of Escherichia coli strains lacking the gltA gene, the ppc gene or the gdhA gene, and measurement of each enzyme activity.

[0141] A plasmid having a gltA gene derived from Brevibacterium lactofermentum was constructed as follows. PCR was performed by using primers having the nucleotide sequences represented in SEQ ID NOS: 6 and 7 selected based on the nucleotide sequence of the gltA gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum (Microbiology, 140, 1817-1828, 1994), and a chromosome DNA of Brevibacterium lactofermentum ATCC 13869 as a template to obtain a gltA gene fragment of about 3 kb. This fragment was inserted into a plasmid pHSG399 (purchased from Takara Shuzo) digested with SmaI to obtain a plasmid pHSGCB (FIG. 5). Then, the pHSGCB was digested with HindIII, and an excised gltA gene fragment of about 3 kb was inserted into a plasmid pMW218 (purchased from Nippon Gene) digested with HindIII to obtain a plasmid pMWCB (FIG. 5). Expression of the gltA gene by the resulting plasmid pMWCB was confirmed by determination of enzyme activity in the Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355.

[0142] (2) Introduction of RSFCPG, pMWCB and pSTVG into Enterobacter agglomerans or Serratia liquefacience, and Evaluation of L-Glutamic Acid Productivity

[0143] The Enterobacter agglomerans ATCC 12287, the Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355 and the Serratia liquefacience ATCC 14460 were transformed with the RSFCPG, pMWCB and PSTVG by electroporation (Miller J. H., “A Short Course in Bacterial Genetics; Handbook” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, USA, 1992) to obtain transformants exhibiting tetracycline resistance.

[0144] Each of the resulting transformants and the parent strains was inoculated into 50 ml-volume large size test tube containing 5 ml of a culture medium comprising 40 g/L glucose, 20 g/L ammonium sulfate, 0.5 g/L magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 2 g/L potassium dihydrogenphosphate, 0.5 g/L sodium chloride, 0.25 g/L calcium chloride heptahydrate, 0.02 g/L ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, 0.02 g/L manganese sulfate tetrahydrate, 0.72 mg/L zinc sulfate dihydrate, 0.64 mg/L copper sulfate pentahydrate, 0.72 mg/L cobalt chloride hexahydrate, 0.4 mg/L boric acid, 1.2 mg/L sodium molybdate dihydrate, 2 g/L yeast extract, and 30 g/L calcium carbonate, and cultured at 37° C. with shaking until the glucose contained in the culture medium was consumed. However, as for the AJ13355/pMWCB strain and the AJ13355/pSTVG strain, the cultivation was stopped when about 10 g/L of glucose was consumed, i.e., cultivated for 15 hours like the parent strain AJ13355, because their glucose consumption rates were low. To the culture medium of the transformants, 25 mg/L of tetracycline was added. After the cultivation was completed, L-glutamic acid accumulated in the culture medium was measured. The results are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Accumulated amount of L-glutamic acid Accumulated amount Bacterial strain of L-glutamic acid ATCC12287 0.0 g/L ATCC12287/RSFCPG 6.1 AJ13355 0.0 AJ13355/RSFCPG 3.3 AJ13355/pMWCB 0.8 AJ13355/pSTVG 0.8 ATCC14460 0.0 ATCC14460/RSFCPG 2.8 Culture medium alone 0.2

[0145] While the Enterobacter agglomerans ATCC12287, the Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355 and the Serratia liquefacience ATCC14460 did not accumulate L-glutamic acid, the strains whose CS, PEPC and GDH activities were amplified by introducing RSFCPG accumulated 6.1 g/L, 3.3 g/L, and 2.8 g/L of L-glutamic acid, respectively. The AJ13355 strain of which CS activity alone was amplified accumulated 0.8 g/L of L-glutamic acid, and the strain of which GDH activity alone was amplified also accumulated 0.8 g/L of L-glutamic acid.

[0146] (3) Cloning of αKGDH Gene (Referred to as “sucAB” Hereinafter) of Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355

[0147] The sucAB gene of the Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355 was cloned by selecting a DNA fragment complementing acetate non-assimilation of an Escherichia coli strain lacking the αKGDH-E1 subunit gene (referred to as “sucA” hereinafter) from the chromosome DNA of the Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355.

[0148] The chromosome DNA of the Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355 strain was isolated by the same method as conventionally used for extracting chromosome DNA from Escherichia coli (Seibutsu Kogaku Jikken-sho (Textbook of Bioengineering Experiments), Ed. by the Society of Fermentation and Bioengineering, Japan, p.97-98, Baifukan, 1992). The pTWV228 used as the vector (ampicillin resistant) was a marketed product from Takara Shuzo.

[0149] Products obtained by digesting the chromosome DNA of the AJ13355 strain with EcoT221 and products obtained by digesting the pTWV228 with PstI were ligated by T4 ligase, and the Escherichia coli JRG465 lacking sucA (Herbert J. et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics, 1969, 105, p.182) was transformed with them. Strains grown on the acetic acid minimal medium were selected from the transformants obtained as described above, and a plasmid extracted from them was designated as pTWVEK101. The Escherichia coli JRG465 carrying the pTWVEK101 recovered the characteristics of acetate non-assimilability as well as auxotrophy for succinic acid or L-lysine and L-methionine. This suggests that the pTWVEK101 contains the sucA gene of Enterobacter agglomerans.

[0150] A restriction map of Enterobacter agglomerans-derived DNA fragment of pTWVEK101 is shown in FIG. 6. The result of nucleotide sequencing of the hatched portion in FIG. 6 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. In this sequence, two full length ORFs and two nucleotides sequences considered as partial sequences of ORFs were found. Amino acid sequences that can be encoded by these ORFs and the partial sequences thereof are shown in SEQ ID NOS: 2 to 5 in order from the 5′ ends. As a result of homology analysis of these sequences, it was found that the portion of which nucleotide sequence had been determined contained a 3′ partial sequence of succinate dehydrogenase iron-sulfur protein gene (sdhB), full length sucA and αKGDH-E2 subunit gene (sucb gene), and 5′ partial sequence of succinyl-CoA synthetase β subunit gene (sucC gene). Comparison of the amino acid sequences deduced from these nucleotide sequences with those of Escherichia coli. (Eur. J. Biochem., 141, 351-359 (1984), Eur. J. Biochem., 141, 361-374 (1984), and Biochemistry, 24, 6245-6252 (1985)) is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. As shown by these results, the amino acid sequences exhibited markedly high homology. It was also found that a cluster of sdhB-sucA-sucB-sucC is formed on the Enterobacter agglomerans chromosome like Escherichia coli (Eur. J. Biochem., 141, 351-359 (1984), Eur. J. Biochem., 141, 361-374 (1984), and Biochemistry, 24, 6245-6252 (1985)).

[0151] (4) Acquisition of Strain Deficient in αKGDH Derived from Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355

[0152] Using the sucAB gene of Enterobacter agglomerans obtained as described above, a strain lacking αKGDH of Enterobacter agglomerans was obtained by homologous recombination.

[0153] First, pTWVEK101 was digested with BglII to remove the C-terminus region corresponding to about half of the sucA gene and the full length of the sucB gene. To this site, a chloramphenicol resistance gene fragment cut out from the pHSG399 (Takara Shuzo) with AccI was then inserted. The region of sdhB-ΔsucAB::Cm^(r)-sucC obtained above was cut out with AflII and SacI. The resulting DNA fragment was used to transform the Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13355 strain by electroporation to obtain a chloramphenicol resistant strain, and thus a Enterobacter agglomerans AJ13356 strain lacking the sucAB gene where the sucAB gene on the chromosome was replaced by sucAB::Cm^(r) was obtained.

[0154] To confirm that the AJ13356 strain obtained as described above was deficient in the αKGDH activity, its enzymatic activity was determined by the method of Reed (L. J. Reed and B. B. Mukherjee, Methods in Enzymology 1969, 13, p.55-61). As a result, the αKGDH activity could not be detected in the AJ13356 strain as shown in Table 2, and thus it was confirmed that the strain lacked the sucAB as desired. TABLE 2 αKGDH activity αKGDH activity Bacterial strain (ΔABS/min/mg protein) AJ13355 0.481 AJ13356 <0.0001

[0155] (5) Evaluation of L-Glutamic Acid Productivity of Enterobacter agglomerans Strain Deficient in αKGDH

[0156] Each of the AJ13355 and AJ13356 strains was inoculated into a 500 ml-volume flask containing 20 ml of a culture medium comprising 40 g/L glucose, 20 g/L ammonium sulfate, 0.5 g/L magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 2 g/L potassium dihydrogenphosphate, 0.5 g/L sodium chloride, 0.25 g/L calcium chloride heptahydrate, 0.02 g/L ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, 0.02 g/L manganese sulfate tetrahydrate, 0.72 mg/L zinc sulfate dihydrate, 0.64 mg/L copper sulfate pentahydrate, 0.72 mg/L cobalt chloride hexahydrate, 0.4 mg/L boric acid, 1.2 mg/L sodium molybdate dihydrate, 2 g/L yeast extract, 30 g/L calcium carbonate, 200 mg/L L-lysine monohydrochloride, 200 mg/L L-methionine and 200 mg/L DL-α,ε-diaminopimelic acid (DAP), and cultured at 37° C. with shaking until the glucose contained in the culture medium was consumed. After the cultivation was completed, L-glutamic acid and α-ketoglutaric acid (abbreviated as “αKG” hereinafter) accumulated in the culture medium were measured. The results are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 Accumulated amounts of L-glutamic acid and αKG Accumulated Bacterial amount of L- Accumulated strain glutamic acid amount of αKG AJ13355 0.0 g/L 0.0 g/L AJ13356 1.5 3.2

[0157] The AJ13356 strain deficient in the αKGDH activity accumulated 1.5 g/L of L-glutamic acid, and simultaneously accumulated 3.2 g/L of αKG.

[0158] (6) Introduction of RSFCPG into Enterobacter agglomerans Strain Lacking αKGDH and Evaluation of L-Glutamic Acid Productivity

[0159] The AJ13356 strain was transformed with the RSFCPG, and the resulting strain introduced with the RSFCPG, AJ13356/RSFCPG, was inoculated into a 500 ml-volume flask containing 20 ml of a culture medium comprising 40 g/L glucose, 20 g/L ammonium sulfate, 0.5 g/L magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 2 g/L potassium dihydrogenphosphate, 0.5 g/L sodium chloride, 0.25 g/L calcium chloride heptahydrate, 0.02 g/L ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, 0.02 g/L manganese sulfate tetrahydrate, 0.72 mg/L zinc sulfate dihydrate, 0.64 mg/L copper sulfate pentahydrate, 0.72 mg/L cobalt chloride hexahydrate, 0.4 mg/L boric acid, 1.2 mg/L sodium molybdate dihydrate, 2 g/L yeast extract, 25 mg/L tetracycline, 30 g/L calcium carbonate, 200 mg/L-lysine monohydrochloride, 200 mg/L L-methionine and 200 mg/L DL-α,ε-DAP, and cultured at 37° C. with shaking until the glucose contained in the culture medium was consumed. After the cultivation was completed, L-glutamic acid and αKG accumulated in the culture medium were measured. The results are shown in Table 4. TABLE 4 Accumulated amounts of L-glutamic acid and αKG Accumulated Bacterial amount of L- Accumulated strain glutamic acid amount of αKG AJ13356 1.4 g/L 2.9 g/L AJ13356/RSFCPG 5.1 0.0

[0160] In the strain of which CS, PEPC and GDH activities were amplified by the introduction of RSFCPG, the accumulated amount of αKG was reduced, and the accumulated amount of L-glutamic acid was further improved.

1 15 1 4556 DNA Enterobacter agglomerans CDS (2)..(121) 1 t gca ttc agc gtt ttc cgc tgt cac agc atc atg aac tgt gta agt gtt 49 Ala Phe Ser Val Phe Arg Cys His Ser Ile Met Asn Cys Val Ser Val 1 5 10 15 tgt cct aaa ggg cta aac ccg acg cgc gct atc ggc cac att aag tcg 97 Cys Pro Lys Gly Leu Asn Pro Thr Arg Ala Ile Gly His Ile Lys Ser 20 25 30 atg ctg ctg caa cgc agc gcg tag ttataccacc gggaacctca ggttcccggt 151 Met Leu Leu Gln Arg Ser Ala 35 attttacgga agcctctgta aacgcggtcc caaccacgtt tacaaaggtt cccttacggg 211 ccgggcgcgc gctgcgcaca gtgctcgtat cgctgaactc actacggcaa accgcgaaag 271 cggcaacaaa tgaaacctca aaaaagcata acattgctta agggatcaca atg cag 327 Met Gln 40 aac agc gcg atg aag ccc tgg ctg gac tcc tcc tgg ctg gcc ggc gcg 375 Asn Ser Ala Met Lys Pro Trp Leu Asp Ser Ser Trp Leu Ala Gly Ala 45 50 55 aat cag tct tac ata gag caa ctc tat gag gat ttc ctg acc gat cct 423 Asn Gln Ser Tyr Ile Glu Gln Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Leu Thr Asp Pro 60 65 70 gac tct gtg gat gca gtg tgg cgc tcg atg ttc caa cag tta cca ggc 471 Asp Ser Val Asp Ala Val Trp Arg Ser Met Phe Gln Gln Leu Pro Gly 75 80 85 acg gga gtg aaa cct gag cag ttc cac tcc gca act cgc gaa tat ttc 519 Thr Gly Val Lys Pro Glu Gln Phe His Ser Ala Thr Arg Glu Tyr Phe 90 95 100 105 cgt cgc ctg gcg aaa gac gca tct cgt tac acc tcc tca gtt acc gat 567 Arg Arg Leu Ala Lys Asp Ala Ser Arg Tyr Thr Ser Ser Val Thr Asp 110 115 120 ccg gca acc aac tcc aaa caa gtg aaa gtg ctg cag ctg att aac gcg 615 Pro Ala Thr Asn Ser Lys Gln Val Lys Val Leu Gln Leu Ile Asn Ala 125 130 135 ttt cgt ttc cgc gga cat cag gaa gca aat ctc gat ccg ctt ggc ctg 663 Phe Arg Phe Arg Gly His Gln Glu Ala Asn Leu Asp Pro Leu Gly Leu 140 145 150 tgg aaa cag gac cgc gtt gcc gat ctc gat cct gcc ttt cac gat ctg 711 Trp Lys Gln Asp Arg Val Ala Asp Leu Asp Pro Ala Phe His Asp Leu 155 160 165 acc gac gcc gat ttt cag gaa agc ttt aac gta ggt tct ttt gcc att 759 Thr Asp Ala Asp Phe Gln Glu Ser Phe Asn Val Gly Ser Phe Ala Ile 170 175 180 185 ggc aaa gaa acc atg aag ctg gcc gat ctg ttc gac gcg ctg aag cag 807 Gly Lys Glu Thr Met Lys Leu Ala Asp Leu Phe Asp Ala Leu Lys Gln 190 195 200 acc tac tgt ggc tcg att ggt gca gag tat atg cac atc aat aac acc 855 Thr Tyr Cys Gly Ser Ile Gly Ala Glu Tyr Met His Ile Asn Asn Thr 205 210 215 gaa gag aaa cgc tgg atc cag cag cgt atc gaa tcc ggt gcg agc cag 903 Glu Glu Lys Arg Trp Ile Gln Gln Arg Ile Glu Ser Gly Ala Ser Gln 220 225 230 acg tca ttc agt ggc gaa gag aaa aaa ggt ttc ctg aaa gag ctg acc 951 Thr Ser Phe Ser Gly Glu Glu Lys Lys Gly Phe Leu Lys Glu Leu Thr 235 240 245 gcg gca gaa ggg ctg gaa aaa tat ctg ggc gcg aaa ttc ccg ggt gca 999 Ala Ala Glu Gly Leu Glu Lys Tyr Leu Gly Ala Lys Phe Pro Gly Ala 250 255 260 265 aaa cgt ttc tcg ctg gaa ggc ggt gat gcg ctg gtg ccg atg ctg cgc 1047 Lys Arg Phe Ser Leu Glu Gly Gly Asp Ala Leu Val Pro Met Leu Arg 270 275 280 gag atg att cgt cat gcg ggc aaa agc ggc aca cgt gaa gtg gta ctg 1095 Glu Met Ile Arg His Ala Gly Lys Ser Gly Thr Arg Glu Val Val Leu 285 290 295 ggg atg gcg cac cgt ggc cgt ctt aac gta ctg att aac gta ctg ggt 1143 Gly Met Ala His Arg Gly Arg Leu Asn Val Leu Ile Asn Val Leu Gly 300 305 310 aaa aag cca cag gat ctg ttc gac gaa ttc tcc ggt aaa cac aaa gag 1191 Lys Lys Pro Gln Asp Leu Phe Asp Glu Phe Ser Gly Lys His Lys Glu 315 320 325 cat ctg ggc acc ggt gat gtg aag tat cac atg ggc ttc tct tcg gat 1239 His Leu Gly Thr Gly Asp Val Lys Tyr His Met Gly Phe Ser Ser Asp 330 335 340 345 att gaa acc gaa ggt ggt ctg gtg cat ctg gcg ctg gcg ttt aac ccg 1287 Ile Glu Thr Glu Gly Gly Leu Val His Leu Ala Leu Ala Phe Asn Pro 350 355 360 tct cac ctg gaa att gtc agc ccg gtg gtc atg gga tcg gta cgt gca 1335 Ser His Leu Glu Ile Val Ser Pro Val Val Met Gly Ser Val Arg Ala 365 370 375 cgt ctc gat cgt ctg gcc gaa ccg gtc agc aat aaa gtg ttg cct atc 1383 Arg Leu Asp Arg Leu Ala Glu Pro Val Ser Asn Lys Val Leu Pro Ile 380 385 390 acc att cac ggt gat gcg gcg gtg att ggt cag ggc gtg gtt cag gaa 1431 Thr Ile His Gly Asp Ala Ala Val Ile Gly Gln Gly Val Val Gln Glu 395 400 405 acc ctg aac atg tct cag gcg cgc ggc tac gaa gtg ggc ggc acg gta 1479 Thr Leu Asn Met Ser Gln Ala Arg Gly Tyr Glu Val Gly Gly Thr Val 410 415 420 425 cgt atc gtc att aac aac cag gtt ggt ttt acc acc tcc aac ccg aaa 1527 Arg Ile Val Ile Asn Asn Gln Val Gly Phe Thr Thr Ser Asn Pro Lys 430 435 440 gat gcg cgt tca acc ccg tac tgt act gac atc ggc aag atg gtg ctg 1575 Asp Ala Arg Ser Thr Pro Tyr Cys Thr Asp Ile Gly Lys Met Val Leu 445 450 455 gca ccg att ttc cac gtc aat gct gac gat ccg gaa gcg gtg gcc ttt 1623 Ala Pro Ile Phe His Val Asn Ala Asp Asp Pro Glu Ala Val Ala Phe 460 465 470 gtt acc cgc ctg gcg ctg gac tat cgc aac acc ttc aaa cgc gat gtg 1671 Val Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Asp Tyr Arg Asn Thr Phe Lys Arg Asp Val 475 480 485 ttt atc gat ctg gtg tgc tat cgc cgt cat ggt cac aac gag gcg gat 1719 Phe Ile Asp Leu Val Cys Tyr Arg Arg His Gly His Asn Glu Ala Asp 490 495 500 505 gag cca agt gct acc cag ccg ttg atg tac cag aaa atc aaa aag cat 1767 Glu Pro Ser Ala Thr Gln Pro Leu Met Tyr Gln Lys Ile Lys Lys His 510 515 520 ccg acg ccg cgt aaa att tac gcc gat cgt ctg gaa ggc gaa ggt gtc 1815 Pro Thr Pro Arg Lys Ile Tyr Ala Asp Arg Leu Glu Gly Glu Gly Val 525 530 535 gcg tcg cag gaa gat gcc acc gag atg gtg aac ctg tac cgc gat gcg 1863 Ala Ser Gln Glu Asp Ala Thr Glu Met Val Asn Leu Tyr Arg Asp Ala 540 545 550 ctc gat gcg ggc gaa tgc gtg gtg ccg gaa tgg cgt ccg atg agc ctg 1911 Leu Asp Ala Gly Glu Cys Val Val Pro Glu Trp Arg Pro Met Ser Leu 555 560 565 cac tcc ttc acg tgg tcg cct tat ctg aac cac gaa tgg gat gag cct 1959 His Ser Phe Thr Trp Ser Pro Tyr Leu Asn His Glu Trp Asp Glu Pro 570 575 580 585 tat ccg gca cag gtt gac atg aaa cgc ctg aag gaa ctg gca ttg cgt 2007 Tyr Pro Ala Gln Val Asp Met Lys Arg Leu Lys Glu Leu Ala Leu Arg 590 595 600 atc agc cag gtc cct gag cag att gaa gtg cag tcg cgc gtg gcc aag 2055 Ile Ser Gln Val Pro Glu Gln Ile Glu Val Gln Ser Arg Val Ala Lys 605 610 615 atc tat aac gat cgc aag ctg atg gcc gaa ggc gag aaa gcg ttc gac 2103 Ile Tyr Asn Asp Arg Lys Leu Met Ala Glu Gly Glu Lys Ala Phe Asp 620 625 630 tgg ggc ggt gcc gag aat ctg gcg tac gcc acg ctg gtg gat gaa ggt 2151 Trp Gly Gly Ala Glu Asn Leu Ala Tyr Ala Thr Leu Val Asp Glu Gly 635 640 645 att ccg gtt cgc ctc tcg ggt gaa gac tcc ggt cgt gga acc ttc ttc 2199 Ile Pro Val Arg Leu Ser Gly Glu Asp Ser Gly Arg Gly Thr Phe Phe 650 655 660 665 cat cgc cac gcg gtc gtg cac aac cag gct aac ggt tca acc tat acg 2247 His Arg His Ala Val Val His Asn Gln Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr Tyr Thr 670 675 680 ccg ctg cac cat att cat aac agc cag ggc gag ttc aaa gtc tgg gat 2295 Pro Leu His His Ile His Asn Ser Gln Gly Glu Phe Lys Val Trp Asp 685 690 695 tcg gtg ctg tct gaa gaa gcg gtg ctg gcg ttt gaa tac ggt tac gcc 2343 Ser Val Leu Ser Glu Glu Ala Val Leu Ala Phe Glu Tyr Gly Tyr Ala 700 705 710 acg gct gag ccg cgc gtg ctg acc atc tgg gaa gcg cag ttt ggt gac 2391 Thr Ala Glu Pro Arg Val Leu Thr Ile Trp Glu Ala Gln Phe Gly Asp 715 720 725 ttt gcc aac ggt gct cag gtg gtg att gac cag ttc atc agc tct ggc 2439 Phe Ala Asn Gly Ala Gln Val Val Ile Asp Gln Phe Ile Ser Ser Gly 730 735 740 745 gaa cag aag tgg ggc cgt atg tgt ggc ctg gtg atg ttg ctg ccg cat 2487 Glu Gln Lys Trp Gly Arg Met Cys Gly Leu Val Met Leu Leu Pro His 750 755 760 ggc tac gaa ggt cag gga ccg gaa cac tcc tct gcc cgt ctg gaa cgc 2535 Gly Tyr Glu Gly Gln Gly Pro Glu His Ser Ser Ala Arg Leu Glu Arg 765 770 775 tat ctg caa ctt tgc gcc gag cag aac atg cag gtt tgc gtc ccg tcg 2583 Tyr Leu Gln Leu Cys Ala Glu Gln Asn Met Gln Val Cys Val Pro Ser 780 785 790 acg ccg gct cag gtg tat cac atg ctg cgc cgt cag gcg ctg cgc ggg 2631 Thr Pro Ala Gln Val Tyr His Met Leu Arg Arg Gln Ala Leu Arg Gly 795 800 805 atg cgc cgt ccg ctg gtg gtg atg tcg ccg aag tcg ctg tta cgc cat 2679 Met Arg Arg Pro Leu Val Val Met Ser Pro Lys Ser Leu Leu Arg His 810 815 820 825 cca ctg gcg atc tcg tcg ctg gat gaa ctg gca aac ggc agt ttc cag 2727 Pro Leu Ala Ile Ser Ser Leu Asp Glu Leu Ala Asn Gly Ser Phe Gln 830 835 840 ccg gcc att ggt gag atc gac gat ctg gat ccg cag ggc gtg aaa cgc 2775 Pro Ala Ile Gly Glu Ile Asp Asp Leu Asp Pro Gln Gly Val Lys Arg 845 850 855 gtc gtg ctg tgc tcc ggt aag gtt tac tac gat ctg ctg gaa cag cgt 2823 Val Val Leu Cys Ser Gly Lys Val Tyr Tyr Asp Leu Leu Glu Gln Arg 860 865 870 cgt aaa gac gag aaa acc gat gtt gcc atc gtg cgc atc gaa cag ctt 2871 Arg Lys Asp Glu Lys Thr Asp Val Ala Ile Val Arg Ile Glu Gln Leu 875 880 885 tac ccg ttc ccg cat cag gcg gta cag gaa gca ttg aaa gcc tat tct 2919 Tyr Pro Phe Pro His Gln Ala Val Gln Glu Ala Leu Lys Ala Tyr Ser 890 895 900 905 cac gta cag gac ttt gtc tgg tgc cag gaa gag cct ctg aac cag ggc 2967 His Val Gln Asp Phe Val Trp Cys Gln Glu Glu Pro Leu Asn Gln Gly 910 915 920 gcc tgg tac tgt agc cag cat cat ttc cgt gat gtc gtg ccg ttt ggt 3015 Ala Trp Tyr Cys Ser Gln His His Phe Arg Asp Val Val Pro Phe Gly 925 930 935 gcc acc ctg cgt tat gca ggt cgc ccg gca tcg gct tct ccg gcc gtg 3063 Ala Thr Leu Arg Tyr Ala Gly Arg Pro Ala Ser Ala Ser Pro Ala Val 940 945 950 ggt tat atg tcc gta cac caa caa cag cag caa gac ctg gtt aat gac 3111 Gly Tyr Met Ser Val His Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Asp Leu Val Asn Asp 955 960 965 gca ctg aac gtc aat taa ttaaaaggaa agata atg agt agc gta gat att 3162 Ala Leu Asn Val Asn Met Ser Ser Val Asp Ile 970 975 980 ctc gtt ccc gac ctg cct gaa tcg gtt gca gat gcc aca gta gca acc 3210 Leu Val Pro Asp Leu Pro Glu Ser Val Ala Asp Ala Thr Val Ala Thr 985 990 995 tgg cac aag aaa cca ggc gat gca gtc agc cgc gat gaa gtc atc 3255 Trp His Lys Lys Pro Gly Asp Ala Val Ser Arg Asp Glu Val Ile 1000 1005 1010 gtc gaa att gaa act gac aaa gtc gtg ctg gaa gtg ccg gca tct 3300 Val Glu Ile Glu Thr Asp Lys Val Val Leu Glu Val Pro Ala Ser 1015 1020 1025 gcc gat ggc gtg ctg gaa gcc gtg ctg gaa gac gaa ggg gca acc 3345 Ala Asp Gly Val Leu Glu Ala Val Leu Glu Asp Glu Gly Ala Thr 1030 1035 1040 gtt acg tcc cgc cag atc ctg ggt cgc ctg aaa gaa ggc aac agt 3390 Val Thr Ser Arg Gln Ile Leu Gly Arg Leu Lys Glu Gly Asn Ser 1045 1050 1055 gcg ggt aaa gaa agc agt gcc aaa gcg gaa agc aat gac acc acg 3435 Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser Ser Ala Lys Ala Glu Ser Asn Asp Thr Thr 1060 1065 1070 cca gcc cag cgt cag aca gcg tcg ctt gaa gaa gag agc agc gat 3480 Pro Ala Gln Arg Gln Thr Ala Ser Leu Glu Glu Glu Ser Ser Asp 1075 1080 1085 gcg ctc agc ccg gcg atc cgt cgc ctg att gcg gag cat aat ctt 3525 Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Ile Arg Arg Leu Ile Ala Glu His Asn Leu 1090 1095 1100 gac gct gcg cag atc aaa ggc acc ggc gta ggc gga cgt tta acg 3570 Asp Ala Ala Gln Ile Lys Gly Thr Gly Val Gly Gly Arg Leu Thr 1105 1110 1115 cgt gaa gac gtt gaa aaa cat ctg gcg aac aaa ccg cag gct gag 3615 Arg Glu Asp Val Glu Lys His Leu Ala Asn Lys Pro Gln Ala Glu 1120 1125 1130 aaa gcc gcc gcg cca gcg gcg ggt gca gca acg gct cag cag cct 3660 Lys Ala Ala Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Ala Ala Thr Ala Gln Gln Pro 1135 1140 1145 gtt gcc aac cgc agc gaa aaa cgt gtt ccg atg acg cgt tta cgt 3705 Val Ala Asn Arg Ser Glu Lys Arg Val Pro Met Thr Arg Leu Arg 1150 1155 1160 aag cgc gtc gcg gag cgt ctg ctg gaa gcc aag aac agc acc gcc 3750 Lys Arg Val Ala Glu Arg Leu Leu Glu Ala Lys Asn Ser Thr Ala 1165 1170 1175 atg ttg acg acc ttc aac gaa atc aac atg aag ccg att atg gat 3795 Met Leu Thr Thr Phe Asn Glu Ile Asn Met Lys Pro Ile Met Asp 1180 1185 1190 ctg cgt aag cag tac ggc gat gcg ttc gag aag cgt cac ggt gtg 3840 Leu Arg Lys Gln Tyr Gly Asp Ala Phe Glu Lys Arg His Gly Val 1195 1200 1205 cgt ctg ggc ttt atg tct ttc tac atc aag gcc gtg gtc gaa gcg 3885 Arg Leu Gly Phe Met Ser Phe Tyr Ile Lys Ala Val Val Glu Ala 1210 1215 1220 ctg aag cgt tat cca gaa gtc aac gcc tct atc gat ggc gaa gac 3930 Leu Lys Arg Tyr Pro Glu Val Asn Ala Ser Ile Asp Gly Glu Asp 1225 1230 1235 gtg gtg tac cac aac tat ttc gat gtg agt att gcc gtc tct acg 3975 Val Val Tyr His Asn Tyr Phe Asp Val Ser Ile Ala Val Ser Thr 1240 1245 1250 cca cgc gga ctg gtg acg cct gtc ctg cgt gac gtt gat gcg ctg 4020 Pro Arg Gly Leu Val Thr Pro Val Leu Arg Asp Val Asp Ala Leu 1255 1260 1265 agc atg gct gac atc gag aag aaa att aaa gaa ctg gca gtg aaa 4065 Ser Met Ala Asp Ile Glu Lys Lys Ile Lys Glu Leu Ala Val Lys 1270 1275 1280 ggc cgt gac ggc aag ctg acg gtt gac gat ctg acg ggc ggt aac 4110 Gly Arg Asp Gly Lys Leu Thr Val Asp Asp Leu Thr Gly Gly Asn 1285 1290 1295 ttt acc atc acc aac ggt ggt gtg ttc ggt tcg ctg atg tct acg 4155 Phe Thr Ile Thr Asn Gly Gly Val Phe Gly Ser Leu Met Ser Thr 1300 1305 1310 cca atc atc aac ccg cca cag agc gcg att ctg ggc atg cac gcc 4200 Pro Ile Ile Asn Pro Pro Gln Ser Ala Ile Leu Gly Met His Ala 1315 1320 1325 att aaa gat cgt cct atg gcg gtc aat ggt cag gtt gtg atc ctg 4245 Ile Lys Asp Arg Pro Met Ala Val Asn Gly Gln Val Val Ile Leu 1330 1335 1340 cca atg atg tac ctg gct ctc tcc tac gat cac cgt tta atc gat 4290 Pro Met Met Tyr Leu Ala Leu Ser Tyr Asp His Arg Leu Ile Asp 1345 1350 1355 ggt cgt gaa tct gtc ggc tat ctg gtc gcg gtg aaa gag atg ctg 4335 Gly Arg Glu Ser Val Gly Tyr Leu Val Ala Val Lys Glu Met Leu 1360 1365 1370 gaa gat ccg gcg cgt ctg ctg ctg gat gtc tga ttcatcactg 4378 Glu Asp Pro Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Asp Val 1375 1380 ggcacgcgtt gcgtgcccaa tctcaatact cttttcagat ctgaatggat agaacatc 4436 atg aac tta cac gaa tac cag gct aaa cag ctg ttt gca cgg tat 4481 Met Asn Leu His Glu Tyr Gln Ala Lys Gln Leu Phe Ala Arg Tyr 1385 1390 1395 ggc atg cca gca ccg acc ggc tac gcc tgt act aca cca cgt gaa 4526 Gly Met Pro Ala Pro Thr Gly Tyr Ala Cys Thr Thr Pro Arg Glu 1400 1405 1410 gca gaa gaa gcg gca tcg aaa atc ggt gca 4556 Ala Glu Glu Ala Ala Ser Lys Ile Gly Ala 1415 1420 2 39 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 2 Ala Phe Ser Val Phe Arg Cys His Ser Ile Met Asn Cys Val Ser Val 1 5 10 15 Cys Pro Lys Gly Leu Asn Pro Thr Arg Ala Ile Gly His Ile Lys Ser 20 25 30 Met Leu Leu Gln Arg Ser Ala 35 3 935 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 3 Met Gln Asn Ser Ala Met Lys Pro Trp Leu Asp Ser Ser Trp Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Gly Ala Asn Gln Ser Tyr Ile Glu Gln Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Leu Thr 20 25 30 Asp Pro Asp Ser Val Asp Ala Val Trp Arg Ser Met Phe Gln Gln Leu 35 40 45 Pro Gly Thr Gly Val Lys Pro Glu Gln Phe His Ser Ala Thr Arg Glu 50 55 60 Tyr Phe Arg Arg Leu Ala Lys Asp Ala Ser Arg Tyr Thr Ser Ser Val 65 70 75 80 Thr Asp Pro Ala Thr Asn Ser Lys Gln Val Lys Val Leu Gln Leu Ile 85 90 95 Asn Ala Phe Arg Phe Arg Gly His Gln Glu Ala Asn Leu Asp Pro Leu 100 105 110 Gly Leu Trp Lys Gln Asp Arg Val Ala Asp Leu Asp Pro Ala Phe His 115 120 125 Asp Leu Thr Asp Ala Asp Phe Gln Glu Ser Phe Asn Val Gly Ser Phe 130 135 140 Ala Ile Gly Lys Glu Thr Met Lys Leu Ala Asp Leu Phe Asp Ala Leu 145 150 155 160 Lys Gln Thr Tyr Cys Gly Ser Ile Gly Ala Glu Tyr Met His Ile Asn 165 170 175 Asn Thr Glu Glu Lys Arg Trp Ile Gln Gln Arg Ile Glu Ser Gly Ala 180 185 190 Ser Gln Thr Ser Phe Ser Gly Glu Glu Lys Lys Gly Phe Leu Lys Glu 195 200 205 Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Gly Leu Glu Lys Tyr Leu Gly Ala Lys Phe Pro 210 215 220 Gly Ala Lys Arg Phe Ser Leu Glu Gly Gly Asp Ala Leu Val Pro Met 225 230 235 240 Leu Arg Glu Met Ile Arg His Ala Gly Lys Ser Gly Thr Arg Glu Val 245 250 255 Val Leu Gly Met Ala His Arg Gly Arg Leu Asn Val Leu Ile Asn Val 260 265 270 Leu Gly Lys Lys Pro Gln Asp Leu Phe Asp Glu Phe Ser Gly Lys His 275 280 285 Lys Glu His Leu Gly Thr Gly Asp Val Lys Tyr His Met Gly Phe Ser 290 295 300 Ser Asp Ile Glu Thr Glu Gly Gly Leu Val His Leu Ala Leu Ala Phe 305 310 315 320 Asn Pro Ser His Leu Glu Ile Val Ser Pro Val Val Met Gly Ser Val 325 330 335 Arg Ala Arg Leu Asp Arg Leu Ala Glu Pro Val Ser Asn Lys Val Leu 340 345 350 Pro Ile Thr Ile His Gly Asp Ala Ala Val Ile Gly Gln Gly Val Val 355 360 365 Gln Glu Thr Leu Asn Met Ser Gln Ala Arg Gly Tyr Glu Val Gly Gly 370 375 380 Thr Val Arg Ile Val Ile Asn Asn Gln Val Gly Phe Thr Thr Ser Asn 385 390 395 400 Pro Lys Asp Ala Arg Ser Thr Pro Tyr Cys Thr Asp Ile Gly Lys Met 405 410 415 Val Leu Ala Pro Ile Phe His Val Asn Ala Asp Asp Pro Glu Ala Val 420 425 430 Ala Phe Val Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Asp Tyr Arg Asn Thr Phe Lys Arg 435 440 445 Asp Val Phe Ile Asp Leu Val Cys Tyr Arg Arg His Gly His Asn Glu 450 455 460 Ala Asp Glu Pro Ser Ala Thr Gln Pro Leu Met Tyr Gln Lys Ile Lys 465 470 475 480 Lys His Pro Thr Pro Arg Lys Ile Tyr Ala Asp Arg Leu Glu Gly Glu 485 490 495 Gly Val Ala Ser Gln Glu Asp Ala Thr Glu Met Val Asn Leu Tyr Arg 500 505 510 Asp Ala Leu Asp Ala Gly Glu Cys Val Val Pro Glu Trp Arg Pro Met 515 520 525 Ser Leu His Ser Phe Thr Trp Ser Pro Tyr Leu Asn His Glu Trp Asp 530 535 540 Glu Pro Tyr Pro Ala Gln Val Asp Met Lys Arg Leu Lys Glu Leu Ala 545 550 555 560 Leu Arg Ile Ser Gln Val Pro Glu Gln Ile Glu Val Gln Ser Arg Val 565 570 575 Ala Lys Ile Tyr Asn Asp Arg Lys Leu Met Ala Glu Gly Glu Lys Ala 580 585 590 Phe Asp Trp Gly Gly Ala Glu Asn Leu Ala Tyr Ala Thr Leu Val Asp 595 600 605 Glu Gly Ile Pro Val Arg Leu Ser Gly Glu Asp Ser Gly Arg Gly Thr 610 615 620 Phe Phe His Arg His Ala Val Val His Asn Gln Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr 625 630 635 640 Tyr Thr Pro Leu His His Ile His Asn Ser Gln Gly Glu Phe Lys Val 645 650 655 Trp Asp Ser Val Leu Ser Glu Glu Ala Val Leu Ala Phe Glu Tyr Gly 660 665 670 Tyr Ala Thr Ala Glu Pro Arg Val Leu Thr Ile Trp Glu Ala Gln Phe 675 680 685 Gly Asp Phe Ala Asn Gly Ala Gln Val Val Ile Asp Gln Phe Ile Ser 690 695 700 Ser Gly Glu Gln Lys Trp Gly Arg Met Cys Gly Leu Val Met Leu Leu 705 710 715 720 Pro His Gly Tyr Glu Gly Gln Gly Pro Glu His Ser Ser Ala Arg Leu 725 730 735 Glu Arg Tyr Leu Gln Leu Cys Ala Glu Gln Asn Met Gln Val Cys Val 740 745 750 Pro Ser Thr Pro Ala Gln Val Tyr His Met Leu Arg Arg Gln Ala Leu 755 760 765 Arg Gly Met Arg Arg Pro Leu Val Val Met Ser Pro Lys Ser Leu Leu 770 775 780 Arg His Pro Leu Ala Ile Ser Ser Leu Asp Glu Leu Ala Asn Gly Ser 785 790 795 800 Phe Gln Pro Ala Ile Gly Glu Ile Asp Asp Leu Asp Pro Gln Gly Val 805 810 815 Lys Arg Val Val Leu Cys Ser Gly Lys Val Tyr Tyr Asp Leu Leu Glu 820 825 830 Gln Arg Arg Lys Asp Glu Lys Thr Asp Val Ala Ile Val Arg Ile Glu 835 840 845 Gln Leu Tyr Pro Phe Pro His Gln Ala Val Gln Glu Ala Leu Lys Ala 850 855 860 Tyr Ser His Val Gln Asp Phe Val Trp Cys Gln Glu Glu Pro Leu Asn 865 870 875 880 Gln Gly Ala Trp Tyr Cys Ser Gln His His Phe Arg Asp Val Val Pro 885 890 895 Phe Gly Ala Thr Leu Arg Tyr Ala Gly Arg Pro Ala Ser Ala Ser Pro 900 905 910 Ala Val Gly Tyr Met Ser Val His Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Asp Leu Val 915 920 925 Asn Asp Ala Leu Asn Val Asn 930 935 4 407 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 4 Met Ser Ser Val Asp Ile Leu Val Pro Asp Leu Pro Glu Ser Val Ala 1 5 10 15 Asp Ala Thr Val Ala Thr Trp His Lys Lys Pro Gly Asp Ala Val Ser 20 25 30 Arg Asp Glu Val Ile Val Glu Ile Glu Thr Asp Lys Val Val Leu Glu 35 40 45 Val Pro Ala Ser Ala Asp Gly Val Leu Glu Ala Val Leu Glu Asp Glu 50 55 60 Gly Ala Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Gln Ile Leu Gly Arg Leu Lys Glu Gly 65 70 75 80 Asn Ser Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser Ser Ala Lys Ala Glu Ser Asn Asp Thr 85 90 95 Thr Pro Ala Gln Arg Gln Thr Ala Ser Leu Glu Glu Glu Ser Ser Asp 100 105 110 Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Ile Arg Arg Leu Ile Ala Glu His Asn Leu Asp 115 120 125 Ala Ala Gln Ile Lys Gly Thr Gly Val Gly Gly Arg Leu Thr Arg Glu 130 135 140 Asp Val Glu Lys His Leu Ala Asn Lys Pro Gln Ala Glu Lys Ala Ala 145 150 155 160 Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Ala Ala Thr Ala Gln Gln Pro Val Ala Asn Arg 165 170 175 Ser Glu Lys Arg Val Pro Met Thr Arg Leu Arg Lys Arg Val Ala Glu 180 185 190 Arg Leu Leu Glu Ala Lys Asn Ser Thr Ala Met Leu Thr Thr Phe Asn 195 200 205 Glu Ile Asn Met Lys Pro Ile Met Asp Leu Arg Lys Gln Tyr Gly Asp 210 215 220 Ala Phe Glu Lys Arg His Gly Val Arg Leu Gly Phe Met Ser Phe Tyr 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Ala Val Val Glu Ala Leu Lys Arg Tyr Pro Glu Val Asn Ala 245 250 255 Ser Ile Asp Gly Glu Asp Val Val Tyr His Asn Tyr Phe Asp Val Ser 260 265 270 Ile Ala Val Ser Thr Pro Arg Gly Leu Val Thr Pro Val Leu Arg Asp 275 280 285 Val Asp Ala Leu Ser Met Ala Asp Ile Glu Lys Lys Ile Lys Glu Leu 290 295 300 Ala Val Lys Gly Arg Asp Gly Lys Leu Thr Val Asp Asp Leu Thr Gly 305 310 315 320 Gly Asn Phe Thr Ile Thr Asn Gly Gly Val Phe Gly Ser Leu Met Ser 325 330 335 Thr Pro Ile Ile Asn Pro Pro Gln Ser Ala Ile Leu Gly Met His Ala 340 345 350 Ile Lys Asp Arg Pro Met Ala Val Asn Gly Gln Val Val Ile Leu Pro 355 360 365 Met Met Tyr Leu Ala Leu Ser Tyr Asp His Arg Leu Ile Asp Gly Arg 370 375 380 Glu Ser Val Gly Tyr Leu Val Ala Val Lys Glu Met Leu Glu Asp Pro 385 390 395 400 Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Asp Val 405 5 40 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 5 Met Asn Leu His Glu Tyr Gln Ala Lys Gln Leu Phe Ala Arg Tyr Gly 1 5 10 15 Met Pro Ala Pro Thr Gly Tyr Ala Cys Thr Thr Pro Arg Glu Ala Glu 20 25 30 Glu Ala Ala Ser Lys Ile Gly Ala 35 40 6 30 DNA Artificial Sequence synthetic DNA 6 gtcgacaata gccygaatct gttctggtcg 30 7 30 DNA Artificial Sequence synthetic DNA 7 aagcttatcg acgctcccct ccccaccgtt 30 8 935 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 8 Met Gln Asn Ser Ala Met Lys Pro Trp Leu Asp Ser Ser Trp Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Gly Ala Asn Gln Ser Tyr Ile Glu Gln Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Leu Thr 20 25 30 Asp Pro Asp Ser Val Asp Ala Val Trp Arg Ser Met Phe Gln Gln Leu 35 40 45 Pro Gly Thr Gly Val Lys Pro Glu Gln Phe His Ser Ala Thr Arg Glu 50 55 60 Tyr Phe Arg Arg Leu Ala Lys Asp Ala Ser Arg Tyr Thr Ser Ser Val 65 70 75 80 Thr Asp Pro Ala Thr Asn Ser Lys Gln Val Lys Val Leu Gln Leu Ile 85 90 95 Asn Ala Phe Arg Phe Arg Gly His Gln Glu Ala Asn Leu Asp Pro Leu 100 105 110 Gly Leu Trp Lys Gln Asp Arg Val Ala Asp Leu Asp Pro Ala Phe His 115 120 125 Asp Leu Thr Asp Ala Asp Phe Gln Glu Ser Phe Asn Val Gly Ser Phe 130 135 140 Ala Ile Gly Lys Glu Thr Met Lys Leu Ala Asp Leu Phe Asp Ala Leu 145 150 155 160 Lys Gln Thr Tyr Cys Gly Ser Ile Gly Ala Glu Tyr Met His Ile Asn 165 170 175 Asn Thr Glu Glu Lys Arg Trp Ile Gln Gln Arg Ile Glu Ser Gly Ala 180 185 190 Ser Gln Thr Ser Phe Ser Gly Glu Glu Lys Lys Gly Phe Leu Lys Glu 195 200 205 Leu Thr Ala Ala Glu Gly Leu Glu Lys Tyr Leu Gly Ala Lys Phe Pro 210 215 220 Gly Ala Lys Arg Phe Ser Leu Glu Gly Gly Asp Ala Leu Val Pro Met 225 230 235 240 Leu Arg Glu Met Ile Arg His Ala Gly Lys Ser Gly Thr Arg Glu Val 245 250 255 Val Leu Gly Met Ala His Arg Gly Arg Leu Asn Val Leu Ile Asn Val 260 265 270 Leu Gly Lys Lys Pro Gln Asp Leu Phe Asp Glu Phe Ser Gly Lys His 275 280 285 Lys Glu His Leu Gly Thr Gly Asp Val Lys Tyr His Met Gly Phe Ser 290 295 300 Ser Asp Ile Glu Thr Glu Gly Gly Leu Val His Leu Ala Leu Ala Phe 305 310 315 320 Asn Pro Ser His Leu Glu Ile Val Ser Pro Val Val Met Gly Ser Val 325 330 335 Arg Ala Arg Leu Asp Arg Leu Ala Glu Pro Val Ser Asn Lys Val Leu 340 345 350 Pro Ile Thr Ile His Gly Asp Ala Ala Val Ile Gly Gln Gly Val Val 355 360 365 Gln Glu Thr Leu Asn Met Ser Gln Ala Arg Gly Tyr Glu Val Gly Gly 370 375 380 Thr Val Arg Ile Val Ile Asn Asn Gln Val Gly Phe Thr Thr Ser Asn 385 390 395 400 Pro Lys Asp Ala Arg Ser Thr Pro Tyr Cys Thr Asp Ile Gly Lys Met 405 410 415 Val Leu Ala Pro Ile Phe His Val Asn Ala Asp Asp Pro Glu Ala Val 420 425 430 Ala Phe Val Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Asp Tyr Arg Asn Thr Phe Lys Arg 435 440 445 Asp Val Phe Ile Asp Leu Val Cys Tyr Arg Arg His Gly His Asn Glu 450 455 460 Ala Asp Glu Pro Ser Ala Thr Gln Pro Leu Met Tyr Gln Lys Ile Lys 465 470 475 480 Lys His Pro Thr Pro Arg Lys Ile Tyr Ala Asp Arg Leu Glu Gly Glu 485 490 495 Gly Val Ala Ser Gln Glu Asp Ala Thr Glu Met Val Asn Leu Tyr Arg 500 505 510 Asp Ala Leu Asp Ala Gly Glu Cys Val Val Pro Glu Trp Arg Pro Met 515 520 525 Ser Leu His Ser Phe Thr Trp Ser Pro Tyr Leu Asn His Glu Trp Asp 530 535 540 Glu Pro Tyr Pro Ala Gln Val Asp Met Lys Arg Leu Lys Glu Leu Ala 545 550 555 560 Leu Arg Ile Ser Gln Val Pro Glu Gln Ile Glu Val Gln Ser Arg Val 565 570 575 Ala Lys Ile Tyr Asn Asp Arg Lys Leu Met Ala Glu Gly Glu Lys Ala 580 585 590 Phe Asp Trp Gly Gly Ala Glu Asn Leu Ala Tyr Ala Thr Leu Val Asp 595 600 605 Glu Gly Ile Pro Val Arg Leu Ser Gly Glu Asp Ser Gly Arg Gly Thr 610 615 620 Phe Phe His Arg His Ala Val Val His Asn Gln Ala Asn Gly Ser Thr 625 630 635 640 Tyr Thr Pro Leu His His Ile His Asn Ser Gln Gly Glu Phe Lys Val 645 650 655 Trp Asp Ser Val Leu Ser Glu Glu Ala Val Leu Ala Phe Glu Tyr Gly 660 665 670 Tyr Ala Thr Ala Glu Pro Arg Val Leu Thr Ile Trp Glu Ala Gln Phe 675 680 685 Gly Asp Phe Ala Asn Gly Ala Gln Val Val Ile Asp Gln Phe Ile Ser 690 695 700 Ser Gly Glu Gln Lys Trp Gly Arg Met Cys Gly Leu Val Met Leu Leu 705 710 715 720 Pro His Gly Tyr Glu Gly Gln Gly Pro Glu His Ser Ser Ala Arg Leu 725 730 735 Glu Arg Tyr Leu Gln Leu Cys Ala Glu Gln Asn Met Gln Val Cys Val 740 745 750 Pro Ser Thr Pro Ala Gln Val Tyr His Met Leu Arg Arg Gln Ala Leu 755 760 765 Arg Gly Met Arg Arg Pro Leu Val Val Met Ser Pro Lys Ser Leu Leu 770 775 780 Arg His Pro Leu Ala Ile Ser Ser Leu Asp Glu Leu Ala Asn Gly Ser 785 790 795 800 Phe Gln Pro Ala Ile Gly Glu Ile Asp Asp Leu Asp Pro Gln Gly Val 805 810 815 Lys Arg Val Val Leu Cys Ser Gly Lys Val Tyr Tyr Asp Leu Leu Glu 820 825 830 Gln Arg Arg Lys Asp Glu Lys Thr Asp Val Ala Ile Val Arg Ile Glu 835 840 845 Gln Leu Tyr Pro Phe Pro His Gln Ala Val Gln Glu Ala Leu Lys Ala 850 855 860 Tyr Ser His Val Gln Asp Phe Val Trp Cys Gln Glu Glu Pro Leu Asn 865 870 875 880 Gln Gly Ala Trp Tyr Cys Ser Gln His His Phe Arg Asp Val Val Pro 885 890 895 Phe Gly Ala Thr Leu Arg Tyr Ala Gly Arg Pro Ala Ser Ala Ser Pro 900 905 910 Ala Val Gly Tyr Met Ser Val His Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Asp Leu Val 915 920 925 Asn Asp Ala Leu Asn Val Asn 930 935 9 933 PRT Escherichia coli 9 Met Gln Asn Ser Ala Leu Lys Ala Trp Leu Asp Ser Ser Tyr Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Gly Ala Asn Gln Ser Trp Ile Glu Gln Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Leu Thr 20 25 30 Asp Pro Asp Ser Val Asp Ala Asn Trp Arg Ser Thr Phe Gln Gln Leu 35 40 45 Pro Gly Thr Gly Val Lys Pro Asp Gln Phe His Ser Gln Thr Arg Glu 50 55 60 Tyr Phe Arg Arg Leu Ala Lys Asp Ala Ser Arg Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ile 65 70 75 80 Ser Asp Pro Asp Thr Asn Val Lys Gln Val Lys Val Leu Gln Leu Ile 85 90 95 Asn Ala Tyr Arg Phe Arg Gly His Gln His Ala Asn Leu Asp Pro Leu 100 105 110 Gly Leu Trp Gln Gln Asp Lys Val Ala Asp Leu Asp Pro Ser Phe His 115 120 125 Asp Leu Thr Glu Ala Asp Phe Gln Glu Thr Phe Asn Val Gly Ser Phe 130 135 140 Ala Ser Gly Lys Glu Thr Met Lys Leu Gly Glu Leu Leu Glu Ala Leu 145 150 155 160 Lys Gln Thr Tyr Cys Gly Pro Ile Gly Ala Glu Tyr Met His Ile Thr 165 170 175 Ser Thr Glu Glu Lys Arg Trp Ile Gln Gln Arg Ile Glu Ser Gly Arg 180 185 190 Ala Thr Phe Asn Ser Glu Glu Lys Lys Arg Phe Leu Ser Glu Leu Thr 195 200 205 Ala Ala Glu Gly Leu Glu Arg Tyr Leu Gly Ala Lys Phe Pro Gly Ala 210 215 220 Lys Arg Phe Ser Leu Glu Gly Gly Asp Ala Leu Ile Pro Met Leu Lys 225 230 235 240 Glu Met Ile Arg His Ala Gly Asn Ser Gly Thr Arg Glu Val Val Leu 245 250 255 Gly Met Ala His Arg Gly Arg Leu Asn Val Leu Val Asn Val Leu Gly 260 265 270 Lys Lys Pro Gln Asp Leu Phe Asp Glu Phe Ala Gly Lys His Lys Glu 275 280 285 His Leu Gly Thr Gly Asp Val Lys Tyr His Met Gly Phe Ser Ser Asp 290 295 300 Phe Gln Thr Asp Gly Gly Leu Val His Leu Ala Leu Ala Phe Asn Pro 305 310 315 320 Ser His Leu Glu Ile Val Ser Pro Val Val Ile Gly Ser Val Arg Ala 325 330 335 Arg Leu Asp Arg Leu Asp Glu Pro Ser Ser Asn Lys Val Leu Pro Ile 340 345 350 Thr Ile His Gly Asp Ala Ala Val Thr Gly Gln Gly Val Val Gln Glu 355 360 365 Thr Leu Asn Met Ser Lys Ala Arg Gly Tyr Glu Val Gly Gly Thr Val 370 375 380 Arg Ile Val Ile Asn Asn Gln Val Gly Phe Thr Thr Ser Asn Pro Leu 385 390 395 400 Asp Ala Arg Ser Thr Pro Tyr Cys Thr Asp Ile Gly Lys Met Val Gln 405 410 415 Ala Pro Ile Phe His Val Asn Ala Asp Asp Pro Glu Ala Val Ala Phe 420 425 430 Val Thr Arg Leu Ala Leu Asp Phe Arg Asn Thr Phe Lys Arg Asp Val 435 440 445 Phe Ile Asp Leu Val Ser Tyr Arg Arg His Gly His Asn Glu Ala Asp 450 455 460 Glu Pro Ser Ala Thr Gln Pro Leu Met Tyr Gln Lys Ile Lys Lys His 465 470 475 480 Pro Thr Pro Arg Lys Ile Tyr Ala Asp Lys Leu Glu Gln Glu Lys Val 485 490 495 Ala Thr Leu Glu Asp Ala Thr Glu Met Val Asn Leu Tyr Arg Asp Ala 500 505 510 Leu Asp Ala Gly Asp Cys Val Val Ala Glu Trp Arg Pro Met Asn Met 515 520 525 His Ser Phe Thr Trp Ser Pro Tyr Leu Asn His Glu Trp Asp Glu Glu 530 535 540 Tyr Pro Asn Lys Val Glu Met Lys Arg Leu Gln Glu Leu Ala Lys Arg 545 550 555 560 Ile Ser Thr Val Pro Glu Ala Val Glu Met Gln Ser Arg Val Ala Lys 565 570 575 Ile Tyr Gly Asp Arg Gln Ala Met Ala Ala Gly Glu Lys Leu Phe Asp 580 585 590 Trp Gly Gly Ala Glu Asn Leu Ala Tyr Ala Thr Leu Val Asp Glu Gly 595 600 605 Ile Pro Val Arg Leu Ser Gly Glu Asp Ser Gly Arg Gly Thr Phe Phe 610 615 620 His Arg His Ala Val Ile His Asn Gln Ser Asn Gly Ser Thr Tyr Thr 625 630 635 640 Pro Leu Gln His Ile His Asn Gly Gln Gly Ala Phe Arg Val Trp Asp 645 650 655 Ser Val Leu Ser Glu Glu Ala Val Leu Ala Phe Glu Tyr Gly Tyr Ala 660 665 670 Thr Ala Glu Pro Arg Thr Leu Thr Ile Trp Glu Ala Gln Phe Gly Asp 675 680 685 Phe Ala Asn Gly Ala Gln Val Val Ile Asp Gln Phe Ile Ser Ser Gly 690 695 700 Glu Gln Lys Trp Gly Arg Met Cys Gly Leu Val Met Leu Leu Pro His 705 710 715 720 Gly Tyr Glu Gly Gln Gly Pro Glu His Ser Ser Ala Arg Leu Glu Arg 725 730 735 Tyr Leu Gln Leu Cys Ala Glu Gln Asn Met Gln Val Cys Val Pro Ser 740 745 750 Thr Pro Ala Gln Val Tyr His Met Leu Arg Arg Gln Ala Leu Arg Gly 755 760 765 Met Arg Arg Pro Leu Val Val Met Ser Pro Lys Ser Leu Leu Arg His 770 775 780 Pro Leu Ala Val Ser Ser Leu Glu Glu Leu Ala Asn Gly Thr Phe Leu 785 790 795 800 Pro Ala Ile Gly Glu Ile Asp Glu Leu Asp Pro Lys Gly Val Lys Arg 805 810 815 Val Val Met Cys Ser Gly Lys Val Tyr Tyr Asp Leu Leu Glu Gln Arg 820 825 830 Arg Lys Asn Asn Gln His Asp Val Ala Ile Val Arg Ile Glu Gln Leu 835 840 845 Tyr Pro Phe Pro His Lys Ala Met Gln Glu Val Leu Gln Gln Phe Ala 850 855 860 His Val Lys Asp Phe Val Trp Cys Gln Glu Glu Pro Leu Asn Gln Gly 865 870 875 880 Ala Trp Tyr Cys Ser Gln His His Phe Arg Glu Val Ile Pro Phe Gly 885 890 895 Ala Ser Leu Arg Tyr Ala Gly Arg Pro Ala Ser Ala Ser Pro Ala Val 900 905 910 Gly Tyr Met Ser Val His Gln Lys Gln Gln Gln Asp Leu Val Asn Asp 915 920 925 Ala Leu Asn Val Glu 930 10 407 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 10 Met Ser Ser Val Asp Ile Leu Val Pro Asp Leu Pro Glu Ser Val Ala 1 5 10 15 Asp Ala Thr Val Ala Thr Trp His Lys Lys Pro Gly Asp Ala Val Ser 20 25 30 Arg Asp Glu Val Ile Val Glu Ile Glu Thr Asp Lys Val Val Leu Glu 35 40 45 Val Pro Ala Ser Ala Asp Gly Val Leu Glu Ala Val Leu Glu Asp Glu 50 55 60 Gly Ala Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Gln Ile Leu Gly Arg Leu Lys Glu Gly 65 70 75 80 Asn Ser Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser Ser Ala Lys Ala Glu Ser Asn Asp Thr 85 90 95 Thr Pro Ala Gln Arg Gln Thr Ala Ser Leu Glu Glu Glu Ser Ser Asp 100 105 110 Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Ile Arg Arg Leu Ile Ala Glu His Asn Leu Asp 115 120 125 Ala Ala Gln Ile Lys Gly Thr Gly Val Gly Gly Arg Leu Thr Arg Glu 130 135 140 Asp Val Glu Lys His Leu Ala Asn Lys Pro Gln Ala Glu Lys Ala Ala 145 150 155 160 Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Ala Ala Thr Ala Gln Gln Pro Val Ala Asn Arg 165 170 175 Ser Glu Lys Arg Val Pro Met Thr Arg Leu Arg Lys Arg Val Ala Glu 180 185 190 Arg Leu Leu Glu Ala Lys Asn Ser Thr Ala Met Leu Thr Thr Phe Asn 195 200 205 Glu Ile Asn Met Lys Pro Ile Met Asp Leu Arg Lys Gln Tyr Gly Asp 210 215 220 Ala Phe Glu Lys Arg His Gly Val Arg Leu Gly Phe Met Ser Phe Tyr 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Ala Val Val Glu Ala Leu Lys Arg Tyr Pro Glu Val Asn Ala 245 250 255 Ser Ile Asp Gly Glu Asp Val Val Tyr His Asn Tyr Phe Asp Val Ser 260 265 270 Ile Ala Val Ser Thr Pro Arg Gly Leu Val Thr Pro Val Leu Arg Asp 275 280 285 Val Asp Ala Leu Ser Met Ala Asp Ile Glu Lys Lys Ile Lys Glu Leu 290 295 300 Ala Val Lys Gly Arg Asp Gly Lys Leu Thr Val Asp Asp Leu Thr Gly 305 310 315 320 Gly Asn Phe Thr Ile Thr Asn Gly Gly Val Phe Gly Ser Leu Met Ser 325 330 335 Thr Pro Ile Ile Asn Pro Pro Gln Ser Ala Ile Leu Gly Met His Ala 340 345 350 Ile Lys Asp Arg Pro Met Ala Val Asn Gly Gln Val Val Ile Leu Pro 355 360 365 Met Met Tyr Leu Ala Leu Ser Tyr Asp His Arg Leu Ile Asp Gly Arg 370 375 380 Glu Ser Val Gly Tyr Leu Val Ala Val Lys Glu Met Leu Glu Asp Pro 385 390 395 400 Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Asp Val 405 11 407 PRT Escherichia coli 11 Met Ser Ser Val Asp Ile Leu Val Pro Asp Leu Pro Glu Ser Val Ala 1 5 10 15 Asp Ala Thr Val Ala Thr Trp His Lys Lys Pro Gly Asp Ala Val Val 20 25 30 Arg Asp Glu Val Leu Val Glu Ile Glu Thr Asp Lys Val Val Leu Glu 35 40 45 Val Pro Ala Ser Ala Asp Gly Ile Leu Asp Ala Val Leu Glu Asp Glu 50 55 60 Gly Thr Thr Val Thr Ser Arg Gln Ile Leu Gly Arg Leu Arg Glu Gly 65 70 75 80 Asn Ser Ala Gly Lys Glu Thr Ser Ala Lys Ser Glu Glu Lys Ala Ser 85 90 95 Thr Pro Ala Gln Arg Gln Gln Ala Ser Leu Glu Glu Gln Asn Asn Asp 100 105 110 Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala Ile Arg Arg Leu Ile Ala Glu His Asn Leu Asp 115 120 125 Ala Ala Gln Ile Lys Gly Thr Gly Val Gly Gly Arg Leu Thr Arg Glu 130 135 140 Asp Val Glu Lys His Leu Ala Asn Lys Pro Gln Ala Glu Lys Ala Ala 145 150 155 160 Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Ala Ala Thr Ala Gln Gln Pro Val Ala Asn Arg 165 170 175 Ser Glu Lys Arg Val Pro Met Thr Arg Leu Arg Lys Arg Val Ala Glu 180 185 190 Arg Leu Leu Glu Ala Lys Asn Ser Thr Ala Met Leu Thr Thr Phe Asn 195 200 205 Glu Val Asn Met Lys Pro Ile Met Asp Leu Arg Lys Gln Tyr Gly Glu 210 215 220 Ala Phe Glu Lys Arg His Gly Ile Arg Leu Gly Phe Met Ser Phe Tyr 225 230 235 240 Val Lys Ala Val Val Glu Ala Leu Lys Arg Tyr Pro Glu Val Asn Ala 245 250 255 Ser Ile Asp Gly Asp Asp Val Val Tyr His Asn Tyr Phe Asp Val Ser 260 265 270 Met Ala Val Ser Thr Pro Arg Gly Leu Val Thr Pro Val Leu Arg Asp 275 280 285 Val Asp Thr Leu Gly Met Ala Asp Ile Glu Lys Lys Ile Lys Glu Leu 290 295 300 Ala Val Lys Gly Arg Asp Gly Lys Leu Thr Val Glu Asp Leu Thr Gly 305 310 315 320 Gly Asn Phe Thr Ile Thr Asn Gly Gly Val Phe Gly Ser Leu Met Ser 325 330 335 Thr Pro Ile Ile Asn Pro Pro Gln Ser Ala Ile Leu Gly Met His Ala 340 345 350 Ile Lys Asp Arg Pro Met Ala Val Asn Gly Gln Val Glu Ile Leu Pro 355 360 365 Met Met Tyr Leu Ala Leu Ser Tyr Asp His Arg Leu Ile Asp Gly Arg 370 375 380 Glu Ser Val Gly Phe Leu Val Thr Ile Lys Glu Leu Leu Glu Asp Pro 385 390 395 400 Thr Arg Leu Leu Leu Asp Val 405 12 41 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 12 Met Asn Leu His Glu Tyr Gly Ala Lys Gln Leu Phe Ala Arg Tyr Gly 1 5 10 15 Met Pro Ala Pro Thr Gly Tyr Ala Cys Thr Thr Pro Arg Glu Ala Glu 20 25 30 Glu Ala Ala Ser Lys Ile Gly Ala Gly 35 40 13 60 PRT Escherichia coli 13 Met Asn Leu His Glu Tyr Gln Ala Lys Gln Leu Phe Ala Arg Tyr Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Ala Pro Val Gly Tyr Ala Cys Thr Thr Pro Arg Glu Ala Glu 20 25 30 Glu Ala Ala Ser Lys Ile Gly Ala Gly Pro Trp Val Val Lys Cys Gln 35 40 45 Val His Ala Gly Gly Arg Gly Lys Ala Gly Gly Val 50 55 60 14 39 PRT Enterobacter agglomerans 14 Ala Phe Ser Val Phe Arg Cys His Ser Ile Met Asn Cys Val Ser Val 1 5 10 15 Cys Pro Lys Gly Leu Asn Pro Thr Arg Ala Ile Gly His Ile Lys Ser 20 25 30 Met Leu Leu Gln Arg Ser Ala 35 15 58 PRT Escherichia coli 15 Phe Leu Ile Asp Ser Arg Asp Thr Glu Thr Asp Ser Arg Leu Asp Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Asp Ala Phe Ser Val Phe Arg Cys His Ser Ile Met Asn Cys 20 25 30 Val Ser Val Cys Pro Lys Gly Leu Asn Pro Thr Arg Ala Ile Gly His 35 40 45 Ile Lys Ser Met Leu Leu Gln Arg Asn Ala 50 55 

What is claimed is:
 1. A microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia and having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid and at least one of the following properties: (a) the microorganism increases in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction for the L-glutamic acid biosynthesis; and (b) the microorganism decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid.
 2. A microorganism according to claim 1 wherein the enzyme catalyzing the reaction for the L-glutamic acid biosynthesis is at least one selected from the group consisting of citrate synthase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and glutamate dehydrogenase.
 3. A microorganism according to claim 2 wherein the enzyme catalyzing the reaction for the L-glutamic acid biosynthesis includes all of citrate synthase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and glutamate dehydrogenase.
 4. A microorganism according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the enzyme catalyzing the reaction branching from the pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing the compound other than L-glutamic acid is α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.
 5. A microorganism according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which is Enterobacter agglomerans or Serratia liquefacience.
 6. A method for producing L-glutamic acid which comprises culturing the microorganism as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 in a liquid culture medium to produce and accumulate L-glutamic acid in the culture medium, and collecting the L-glutamic acid from the culture medium. 